Literally Starving Yourself to Death

An article that came across the wire about BPD and eating disorders:

Body of anorexic woman lay undiscovered in flat for up to two weeks
Weight obsession blamed for death

THE body of a 31-year-old anorexic woman lay undiscovered in her flat for up to 13 days, because care workers and relatives thought she was on holiday in Egypt.

Annette Rogers, who weighed just 7st 4lb and had a body mass index (BMI) of 16.4 – the healthy range being 18.5 to 24.9 – had packed her bags to leave on June 18, 2009.

But she never left her Hanley flat and her body was discovered on June 29.

It was so badly decomposed that a cause of death could not be given and she could only be identified by dental records.

Now her family has made a complaint to the parliamentary and health service ombudsman about her treatment.

They believe Annette should have been sectioned under the Mental Health Act and force-fed, despite health professionals saying her BMI was not low enough.

Speaking after yesterday’s inquest into Annette’s death, mother June Bradbury, of Moss Green Road, Berry Hill, said: “I don’t want this to happen to anyone else. I feel she was left to die.”

North Staffordshire coroner Ian Smith had earlier recorded an open verdict.

The inquest heard Annette had previously suffered from cardiac arrest from the strain the anorexia put on her heart.

At the time of her death she was taking laxatives and slimming tablets and was drinking just 300 millilitres a day.

She also suffered from obsessive compulsive disorder and borderline personality disorder and heard voices which told her not to eat and drink.

She would also try to lose extra pounds by obsessively exercising and using sunbeds to help her dehydrate.

The inquest heard Annette had started losing weight at 18 after becoming involved with her married driving instructor.

But Mrs Bradbury said her daughter, who had taken overdoses and been sectioned in the past, had been looking forward to her Egypt holiday, which was being paid for through a care fund.

Mrs Bradbury said: “Once I knew she was going to Egypt I was against it because it was such a hot country but she wanted to go and that was it.”

Annette was last seen alive at her Bucknall Old Road flat on June 16.

Mrs Bradbury added: “She looked really skeletal and her eyes were fixed. I said you should not be going to Egypt, I might never see you again.”

The inquest heard experts expressed concern about the trip but could not stop Annette going as she was an adult and the respite grants can be spent on holidays.

A psychiatrist and social worker had assessed Annette on June 5, but could not justify detaining her under the Mental Health Act – doctors can force-feed patients if their BMI drops below 13.

Annette’s care co-ordinator Judith Dolman said: “We weren’t in a position to take any further action. She agreed to meet me on June 30. She was positive and looking forward to her holiday.”

Psychiatrist Catherine Thompson said: “We would all wish things would have turned out differently. But I don’t think we could have made any different decision.”

Delivering his verdict, Mr Smith said: “I am not sure how much more the medics could have done.”

After the inquest, Annette’s sister Debbie Bradbury, aged 29,said: “The health professionals said they wouldn’t do anything differently but I find that very hard to face. All the boxes were ticked, but what about treating her as a person?”